Air conditioning device



May 30; 1939. F. J. KURTH AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE Filed Ap ril 21, '1937INVENTOR fkqn/z J ffuRr/v.

ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to air treating apparatus generally known as airconditioning devices.

The object of the present invention is to devise an apparatus wherebyair may be eifectively cleaned, purified and cooled, and be deliveredwith a desired moisture content and of the desired temperature, and theparticular object of this invention is to produce an apparatus ofcomparatively small compass and one which can be installed, maintainedand operated at low cost and whereby the above can be accomplished inthe most efiicient and economic manner.

In order to bring about an efiicient cleaning, purifying and cooling ofair solely by water, it is necessary that the air be brought into theclosest intimate contact with the water. To this end, in accordance withmy invention, the air is caused to pass through a plurality ofsuperposed spaced apart layers composed of a very large number of smallceramic bodies and continually sprayed by water so that the air insuccessively passing upwards through these various layers is repeatedlybrought into the most intimate contact with the water directed in finestreams against the layers from above through nozzles provided abovethe' layers, except the topmost layer, which is not moistened and whichhereinafter will be referred to as the dry" layer.

Water of various temperatures may be supplied to the various layers tothereby gradually cool the air as it passes upwards through the variouslayers. The water from all the various layers, together with the waterused in the pre moistening chamber below the bottom layer,- is collectedin a tank at the bottom of the casing containing the various layers,which tank includes a pump for the re-circulation of the water.

To provide as large a surface as possible with- 0 out giving theapparatus undue dimensions, the

layers, which, as has been stated above, are composed of a very largenumber of ceramic bodies, are given an inclined position, whereby thesize of the layers and thereby the number of the ceramic bodies and thetotal surface area are considerably increased.

In the pre-moistening chamber, the air is freed from the coarserimpurities, whereas during the passage of the air through the variouslayers, even the very finest dust particles and any bacteria carried bythe air are successfully removed therefrom, so that absolutely pure airof the desired moisture content and temperature is delivered by theapparatus. While the air by the ceramic bodies of the various layers,the water particles carried by the air due to the cooling eflectarecondensed and thus become separated from the air, carrying with them anyfine dust particles suspended in the air, which are then removed by thesprays of water passing down through the layers. Because of the use ofceramic bodies and the continual cleaning of the same by the downwardlyflowing water, the layers will always present free passages for the fiowof the air. I

At the air-inlet side of the casing as well as at the air-outlet ordischarge side thereof, a heater is preferably provided, and the air isdrawn through the casing by an exhaust fan provided at the outlet ordischarge end of the casing.

The various layers as well as the pipes carrying the nozzles forspraying water against the layers may be made removable for cleaning andrepairing purposes.

For a fuller understanding of my invention, I refer to the followingdescription with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1 through aportion of the apparatus.

In the drawing, I designates a closed casing provided inside with aslanting bottom plate 2 having a drain-hole 3 in the center and formingwith the bottom of the casing a collecting tank 4. In the larger upperportion of the casing there aredisposed in. superposed relation andsuitably spaced apart several layers each comprising a bed composed of alarge number of ceramic bodies, or similar material, three such bedsbeing shown respectively at 5; 6 and 1. As seen in the drawing, thesebeds are inclined relative to the wallsof the casing so as to provide aslarge surfaces as possible, without unduly increasing the dimensions ofcasing I.

At 8, 9 and ID are shown pipes extending through the intermediate spacesbetween the said beds and belowthe bottom bed 5. Each of these pipes isprovided with a plurality of spray nozzles, respectively designated by8, 8 etc., 9, 9*, etc., and Ill, i0", etc.,and so disposed as to directfine sprays respectively into the space H intermediate the bottom plate2 and the bottom bed 5 and against the beds 5 and 6. At I2 is shown oneof vertically disposed pipes connected with the nozzle carrying pipes I.9 and II, and whereby fresh water is supplied to these latter pipes.Into pipe I2 also terminate the branches I3 and I4 of a pipe I5, whichis connected to a pump I6 housed in the collectin tank- 4, and wherebythe water in said collecting tank may be recirculated to be used againfor spraying the bottom bed 5 and space II intermediate said bottom bedand the bottom.- plate 2. Suitable valves are shown at I1, I8, I9, 20,-2I and 22. 23 and 24 designate heating devices or heating elementsprovided respectively at the inlet and outlet end of the casing, while25 designates an exhaust fan to draw air through the apparatus, the airentering at 26, and being discharged through an outlet shown at 21.

Intermediate the heating element 24 and the exhaust fan 25 is provided aconnecting piece 28 supported by the outer wall of casing I. At the topof said connecting piece spray-nozzles are provided, one being shown at30, which nozzles are supplied with water from a source not shown.

To enable the beds 5, '8 and 1 to be cleaned,-

if necessary, they are made removable. To this end there are fastened tothe inner wall of the casing U-shaped guide-rails as shown at 3| and 32,whereas the beds are provided-with rollers as shown at 32 and 34 inrespect of bed 1 so that the beds can be readily withdrawn from thecasing, which to that end is provided at its front with removable wallsections (not shown). Similar guide-rails are, of course, provided forthe beds 5 and 6, which also are equipped along their sides withsuitable rollers.

Likewise, the nozzle carrying pipes 8, 9 and III coupled respectively tothe branches I5, 36 L and 21 of pipes I2 at 88, 39 and 40 respectivelyafter being uncoupled thereform can be removed from the casing, accessto these pipes being given through the said removable sections of thefront -wall of the casing. The free ends of the pipes are looselysupported by suitable hookshaped me bers fastened to the inner wall ofeasing I, as shown at 4|, 42, and 43.

The operation of the apparatus may be briefly. described as follows:

The air is. admitted to casing I through the air-inlet shown at 28 andflowing past the heating device or element 23, enters the chamber II,where it is pre-moistened and eflectively freed from any coarseimpurities by being subjected to a large number of fine sprays of waterdownwardly directed by the spray-nozzles 8", 8, 8, etc. Being drawn intothe casing by the fan 25, the air flows upwards successively passingthrough the beds 5, 6 and 1. The beds .5 and 8 being continually sprayedby water directed against them from above by the spray-nozzles I", 8, 9,etc., and III, III, I", etc., respectively,

the air in passing through these beds is brought into mose intimatecontact with the water sur-.

' rounding the numerous ceramic bodies of which the two beds arecomposed. After having passed through the bed 5, the air is saturated tothe dew point and at the same. time is cooled below the temperature withwhich it entered the casing.

In'passing through the second bed 6, the air is further cooled, whileits moisture content is reduced. The top bed 1 is a dry bed not beingsubjected to any sprays, and the air in passing through this bed isfurther cooled, and its moisture content is further reduced. -Because ofthe necessary cooling of the air, the water particles carried therebyare condensed on the ceramic bodies of which the beds are composed andthereby the finest dust particles suspended in the air, including anybacteria, are effectively removed from the air, so that the air whenleaving the dry bed 1 at the top of the casing is completely purified Onits way from the top chamber I to the outlet 21, the air passes throughthe heating device or heating element 24, and in the connecting piece 28may be moistened again by water delivered by the spraynozzle 3..

The air discharged through the air outlet 21 is purified air .of thedesired moisture content and temperature. Depending on the size and thenumber of revolutions of the exhaust fan 25, the velocity of the fiow ofair through the casing may be regulated as desired. In order thatthebest results be obtained, the air must not flow through the casing attoo great a velocity, because in that case the air would carry alongwith it the dust particles without being freed therefrom.

Fresh water is supplied to the spray-nozzles shown in the drawingthrough pipe I2, which is connected with the pipes I, 0 and III throughthe branches", 2' and 21. The water delivered by the spray-nozzles flowsdown to the bottomplate 2 and from there into the collecting tank 4.Now, this water may be re-circulated through the nozzle carrying pipesand the beds inside casing I. In that case, the valve 2| in pipe I2 is'closed, the pump I in the collecting tank 4 is started, and thepreviously closed valves I1 and I! in the branches I3 and I4 of pipe Iare opened. Also, it may be desired, to direct against the bed 5 freshwater, while recirculating through the bed 5 and the pre-moisteningchamber II water collected in the tank 4. In that case, the valve 2| inpipe I2 is opened, but the valve 22 further down 'in the pipe I2 isclosed, while the valves I1 and II are opened as before.

By the water in collecting tank 4 being used for re-circulation, as willbe obvious, a great saving in water can be achieved, whereby theapparatus may be very economically operated.

Furthermore, because of the beds being composed of ceramic bodies, itwill be apparent that, since the water in flowing downwards continuallywashes the ceramic bodies, the beds will not easily become clogged, sothat cleaning of the beds will be required only at rare intervals.

I claim:

In a device of the type described, in combination with a closed casinghaving an air inlet and an air outlet, a plurality of beds of ceramic orlike hygroscopic bodies disposed in said casing in superposedrelationship at an inclination extending from one wall of said casing tothe opposite wall and spaced apart to form chambers between them, abottom-plate having a drain opening and forming with the lowermost ofsaid beds a pre-moistening chamber, spray-nozzles in said chambers andin said pre-rnoistening chamber, means for supplying a liquid to said J.KURTH.

